Wateb softener valve



June 16, 1931. c. P. EISENHAUER 18,098

WATER SOFTENER VALVE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR CHI/P155 PE/SEWMUER.

A TTORNEY June 1931- c. P. EISENHAUER WATER SOFTENER VALVE OriginalFiled Jan. 22, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ////l'/II IN VENT OR C/HRLES PE/SEI/Hll/EF.

B Y (f/V A TTORNEY mama June 1 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT- oar-ice examsr. meanness, or DAYTON, omo, ASSIGNOB r rm: mrno comment, or

DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01' OHIO WATER SOI'TEHEB VALVE Original 80.1,685,541, dated December 18, 1928, Serial No. 8,851, illed January 88,1885. Application mreielue filed February 26,

My invention relates to water softening devices and more particularly tochemical softeners, wherein the active materials are periodicallyrevived or restored by washin in 5 reverse direction to remove imurities. fi uch washing or cleansing being or inarily efiected by use ofsalt brine.

The ordinary installation requires a rather complicated plumbing systemof conduits and independently operated valves in order to direct theflow of water from the source of the valve is in one direction the testcock will supply in one direction thru the filter bed and then into theservice or distribution line, and in reverse direction thru the bed andinto a is waste outlet, with necessary pet cocks for testing thecondition of the water during different stages of o ration. Inasmuch assuch water softening evices are installed in residences the care andresponsibility of opera- :0 tion involvin the opening and closing of anumber of in ependent valves is too great for the ordina householder whomay not understand the t eory and principle of operation. The presentinvention is intended to overcome 26 these difliculties by providing acirculation system under control of a single valve operable todiiferentv positions, which may be. plainly marked so that the unskilledperson may operate the softener to change the cirao cuitory system fromoperating condition to regenerating or recharging condition and viceversa, with no chance of mistake. To this end the present inventionembodies a tank or main chamber containing a filter bed of watersoftening material, thru which the water ordinarily enters the bottomand passes out at the top. During regeneration, however, water isadmitted at the top of such tank and above the filter bed, and iswithdrawn from the bottom. Therefore, the tank or compartment is providd with conduits leading to the to and bottom of such com artment ortank, w lichare alternately emp oyed as inlets'or outlet conduits, to bealternately connected with a sup ly conduit from a source of water supply unrier pressure. The other of the tank conduits is connected withthe service or .distribution conduit during normal operation and .beinconnected with the outlet or waste conduit uring the regenerationperiod. This 1980. Serial No. 431,612.

alternation of connection is efl'ected by asingle rota control "alve,having multiple ports and c a rs effecting the interconnection of theseve l conduits in different relations by difieren adjustments of suchvalves. Thls control valve is further provided with a test cock which isin constant communication with the flow of water, whichever-may be itsdirection, so that the test cock will discharge water after it haspassed the bed of filter material, whichever its direction of flow maybe. When supply water from the top of the compartment or tank, duringthe normal softening period of operation, while in reverse POSI- tion ofthe valve, during the regeneration period, the test cock will supplywater from the bottom of the tank. Thus only a single e valve and sin Ietest cock are necessary, connection 0 thetest cock being reversed withthe reversal of the conduit. connection by the adjustment of the valve,The construction and operation being thus simplified, the control andoperation of the softeni and filter system is within the ability anskill of the ordinary householder, who'need not know the theory ofoperation, but who is required merely to turn the valve from oneposition to the other, at regular intervals The object of the inventionis to simplify the structureas well as the means and mode of operationof water softeners and filters, whereby they will not only be cheapenedin construction but will be more efiicient in use, positive inoperation, uniform in action, easily controlled and unlikely to get outof repair.

A further and primary object of the invention is to providev a universalcontrol of the various circuits and conduits comprisin the softener andfilter system, whereby suc systems may be controlled by a person unsilled and without knowledge of the theory of operation, with no da er ofbecoming confused, and wherein it'will be impossible for such person vtomake wrong or improper adjustments. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved system ofinterconnection between the 'watersupply conduit and distributionconduit in awater softener or filter .parts and combinations thereof andthe mode of operation, or their equivalents as hereinafter described andset forth in the claims.

Referri to the accom i anying drawings, Fig. 1 is a nt view and i 2 1s avertical sectional view of an assemble water softener or filter,embodying the present features of invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged frontelevation ofthe universal control valve and Fig.4 is a longitudinalsectional viewon line 44 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detailsectional views on lines 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the valve in difierentpositions of adjustment, that shown in Fig. 5 being the normal orsoftening position, Fig. 6 showing the intermediate or ofi position, inwhich pressure is received from the tank pre aratory to regeneration.Fig. 7 shows the va ve POSI- tioned for regeneratlon or for cleansin andrevival of the filtering and softening ody. Fig. 8 is a sectional viewof the ap aratus from which the salt t has been omltted.

Like parts are in cated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred,but obviouscharging into the lower portion of the tank or compartment 1preferably into the substratum of gravel is a conduit 4, havingperforated, distributing arms 5. In the normal softening and filteroperations, the water discharged through the conduit 4 and distribut inghead 5 passes upward through the superposed bodyof filtering andsoftening material and is withdrawn from the top of the tank orcompartment through a conduit 6. The conduit 6 extends exteriorly of thetank, but for improvement of the appearance of the softener it is whollenclosed, extending downwardly through tli e body 3 of the softening andfiltering material, and thence laterally thru the wall of the tank at amid-height point. While the conduit 4 is normally employed as the inletconduit, and the conduit -6 as the outlet for the filtered and softenedwater, during the regeneration or rejuvenation period, salt water brineis introduced into the tank or compartment 1, thru the conduit 6 and isallowed to percolate downwardly thru the body 3 offiltering andsoftening material and the bottom of the tanker compartment thru theconduit 4. Thus the flow direction is re versed.

To provide convenient means for introducing the salt brine forrejuvenation purposes and to afford a settling chamber in which may becollected any sand or particles carriedthru the. outlet conduit 6 fromthe tank or compartment, and to prevent their conduct into thedistribution system, there is provided on the side of the tank orcompartment 1, an auxiliary chamber or salt pot 7, with which theconduit 6 communicates. The salt pot 7 has a removable closure lid 8,which'may be hermetically sealed by means of the pressure screw 9.Leading to the apparatus is a water supply conduit 10, leading from anysource 0 supply under pressure, such as a city distribution system.

Leading from the apparatus is a service conduit or .distribution line11, conducting the softened water to various parts of the house. Inaddition to the supply and service conduits, there is also provlded awaste conduit 12, preferably connected with the sewer or other disposaloutlet. From the bottom of the salt pot 7 there extends an auxiliarywaste conduit 13, which communicates wlth the waste disposal conduit12.. The auxiliary conduit 13 is for the purpose of draining the saltpot permitting the pot to be charged with salt for regeneration. In lieuof providing such control valve for the several conduits to 0 en andclose in certain combinations to e act the active softenin operation andthe rejuvenation operation, t ere is pro- 'vided in the present instancea single. universal valve common to all ,of the conduits. The use ofasingle valve having multiple connections enables a person unacquaintedwith the circuitory system and the theory of operation to change the aparatus from softening to regeneration an vice versa without danger ofmistake and with minimum efl'ort by the oscillation of a single controllever. The universal valve comprises a valve housing 15, locatedpreferably on the front wall of the salt pot 7. This housing 15 has anoppositely dis sed lateral connection for the su ply con uit 10 and theservice or distributlon conduit 11, and'also connections at its bottomfor a tank conduit 4 and the waste disposal conduit 12. Intermediate thelast named conduits at the bottom of the housing, there is provided atest cook 16, which in all positions of the valve is in constantcommunication with the interior of the tank or compartment 1, and by thereversal of the common control valve such test cock is alternatelyconnected with the bottom and top of the tank to test the water after ithas passed in either direction thru the body of filtering and softeningmaterial. Located in the housing 15 is a rotary barrel 17, divided intononcommunicating chambers '18 and 19 and pro vided with a pluralityofradially dis sed ports brought mto re lstry with the. di erent conduitor fices in the valve housing with which the respective conduitscommunicate. The rotary barrel 17 is provided with a concentric orifice20, in its inner end, which is in constant communication with thetankorcompartment 1, thru the salt pot 7. Within the salt pot 7 is adependent 'conduit 21, directly connected to the port 20 of the valveandextending downwardly within the salt pot terminating in a screen orfilter head 22.

In the'normal or softening position of the valve, the chamber 19 formsan intercommunicating passage from the sup ly conduitlO to the tankinlet conduit 4. n this ad'ustment as shown in Fig. the port 23 o therotary valved'barrel is in registry with the orifice of the inletconduit whi e the port 24 registers with the orifice of the tank conduit4'. At the same time the port communicating-with the tank 1 thru thesalt pot and conduit 6 is in communication with the service ordistribution conduit 11 throu h the radial port 25, which is in registryt erewith. The water to be softened is thus introduced into the inletconduit 10 passing through the chamber 19 and the tank conduit 4, intothe lower portion of the tank 1, where it passes from the distributionhead 5 upwardly through the body 3 of material to the top of the tankfrom which it is drained through the conduit 6, into the auxiliary orsalt pot 7 Where any entrained particles of sand or foreign material aredeposited. The water passes thence throu h the strainer head 22 andconduit 21, to t e port 20, which at all times is in communication withthe chamber 18 of the valve barrel, from which it passes from the port25 to the distribution or service line. At such time the orifice to thewaste disposal conduit 12 is closed, but the test cock 16 IS incommunication'with the chamber 18,

' through an auxiliary port 26 in the valve barrel. Thus at any time by0 ening the test cook 16 a sam le of water may e drawn from the top oftlie tank after such water has passed thru the filter body. When it isfound that the zeolite or other chemical filter body is not afi'ordingto the water the proper degree of softening or in other words is notremoving from the water the desired portion of alkaline constituents,the filter body is cleansed and rejuvenated by the circulation of saltbrine therethru in reverse direction. In assing from the activesoftening position to t e regenerating or rejuvenating position, thevalve off position. In this position, both the sup 1y conduit 10, andservice or distribution 'con uit 11 are disconnected while the port 20communicating with the salt pot 7 and conduit 6 to the top of the tankis in direct communication with the waste disposal conduit passes aneutral or intermediate 12. This allows-the escape of the surplus waterfrom the top of the tank and relieves the pressure, allow ng the saltpot tobeo ened for a charge of common salt to effect t e rejuvenation ofthe filter bed. Inthe event the auxiliary chamber or salt pot 7 is notemployed as. ma be the case, the salt charge may be intro uced thru thehand hole 27 1n the top of the tank. During this off or.

charging position the test cock 16 is in communication with the bottomof the tank or let or su ply conduit orifice 10, while maintaining t eservice or distribution conduit 11 closed. This allows the inflowingwater I from the supply conduit 10 to pass into the chamber 18 to passinto the barrel and thence thru the port 20 into the salt pot 7, wherethe salt is dissolved and the solution or brine is carried thru theconduit 6 from the salt pot to the top of the tank' 1 overflowing the.extremity of the conduit onto the'bed 3' of filter material. I

This cleansing and rejuvenating salt solution percolates thru the filterbed 3 and is collected b the perforated head 5 at the bottom of thetank-and conducted thence thru the tank conduit 4 to the chamber 19 ofthe valve barrel, which in the regenerating position of the valve is incommunication with such tank conduit 4 thru the port 23,- while at thesame time the port 24 of such compartment is in registry with the wastedisposal conduit 12. The saline solution drained rom the bottom of thetank is thus conducted thru the conduit 4 and the intercommunicatingvalve chamber 19 to the waste conduit 12 I thru which it is dischargedinto the sewer or other waste disposal. During this position of thevalve the test cock 16 is in communication with the valve chamber 19thru the intermediate port 28, registering therewith, so that the Wateror solution being conducted from the tank may be tested from time totime to ascertain the stage of rejuvenation, and to determine whether ornot thesaline solution is entirely eliminated. When the filter bed 3 hasbeen properly and thoroughly cleansed and restored to its activesoftening characteristics, and the saline solution is eliminated, thecontrol valve is returned to its normal or softening position as shownin Fig. 5 by reversal of the lever 29, thereby causing the water supplyto enter the tank 1 at the bottom thereof thru the conduit 4 and passedward thru the filter bed leavwill'be no leakage.

ing the tank t lru the conduit 6 and thence thru the port 20 of thecontrol valve to. the service or distribution conduit 11.

. If the rotary valve barrel 17 is closely and accurately fitted withinthe casing 15, there When thevalve is in operating or softeningposition, shown in Fig. 5, there is high pressure in all conduits andboth valve chambers, except in the waste conduit 12, and there might beleakage in a badly fitted valve from the port 26 to the waste conduit12. To obviate such leakage, a seal' plug 30 is provided which is seatedin a recess in the valve barrel 17, and is urged against the port toconduit 12 by a spring 31. In addition to spring pressure, the sealingplug 30 is subjected to water pressure upon its inner side through thesmall opening 32. Thus the waste port is effectually closed against thehigh pressure developed within the valve barrel. Obviously, such sealplug may be entirel omitted if the valve is otherwise made lea -tight.

In order that water may be supplied to the distribution lines foremergency use during the regeneration period, an auxiliary bypass 33 isprovided. This by-pass is not an essential feature, but will be foundderirable and a convenience. The conduits 4 and 6 may extend exteriorlyof the tank entering the tank adjacent the top and bottom thereof, butfor improved appearance are extended interiorly as shown in thedrawings. In Fig. 8 there is shown a modification wherein the salt pot 7has been omitted and the control valve connected directly to the conduit6 leading into the tank. In this construction the hand hole cover 27 isremoved from the top of the tank and the salt charge is entered directlyinto the to of the tank, which is first drained and tie pressurerelieved by turning the valveto off position. It will be noted that thetest cock is connected alternately to the .top and bottom of the tank bythe reversal of the valve.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form,'proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificdetails shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprises the preferred form ofsevin any of its forms within the scopeof the.

ternately employed as inlet and outlet conduits leadin to the top andbottom of the tank, a supp y conduit, a service conduit and a wasteconduit, and a rotary valve common to all of said conduits, by theadjustment of which the water flow from said service pipe may bedirected thru the tank inlet and outlet conduits in one direction andthence thru the service pipe or thru such tank inlet and outlet conduitsin the opposite direction and thence thru the waste conduit or toentirely disconnect said service conduit.

2. In a water softener, a tank, separate conduits communicating with thetank and alternately employed for inlet and outlet purposes, a supplyconduit, a service conduit and a waste conduit, and a control valvewhich when in one position of adjustment connects the supply conduitthru the tank inlet and outlet conduits with the service conduit andwhen in reverse position connects the supply conduit thru the tank inletand outlet conduits in reverse relation with the waste conduit or toentirely disconnect said service conduit.

3. In a. water softener, a tank, conduits extending into proximity withthe top and bottom of the tank respectively and alternately employed forinlet and outlet purposes, a supply conduit, a service conduit and awaste conduit and a valvefor connecting the supply conduit alternatelywith the respective tank communicating conduits and simultaneouslyconnecting said tank conduits alternately with the service and'wasteconduits or to entirely disconnect said service conduit.

4. In a water softener, a tank, a regenerating chamber, a conduitconnecting the regenerating chamber with the top of the tank, a supplyconduit discharging into the lower portion of the tank, and a serviceconduit communicating with the generating chamber, and a valve operatingto cut ofi the service conduit and open the supply conduit to theregenerating chamber and open the bottom of the tank to waste or toentirely disconnect said service conduit.

5. In a water softener, a tank having spaced inlet and outletconnections, a supply conduit, a service conduit and a waste connection,and a common valve adapted to reverse the flow from one supply conduitthru the tank to the service conduit and waste connections respectivelyor to entirely disconnect said service conduit.

6. In a water softener, a tank, a supply conduit, a service conduit anda waste connection, and a common control valve which when inone positionwill direct the water flow from the supply conduit thru the tank to thelob lil!

service conduit and when in reverse position will direct the flow inreverse direction from the supply conduit to the waste connection or toentirely disconnect said service conduit. 7. In a water softener, atank, a supply conduit, a service conduit and a waste connection, and acommon control valve which when in one position will direct the waterflow from the supply conduit thru the tank to the service conduit andwhen in reverse position will direct the flow in reverse direction fromthe supply conduit to the waste connection and dis'connectsaid serviceconduit, and further adapted to connect the tank direct with the wastewhile disconnecting both the supply and service conduits in a thirdposition of said common valve.

8. In a water softener, a tank havin inlet and outlet connections, asupply con uit, a service conduit and a waste connection, a

common valve for connecting the supply conduit at will thru the tankwith the service conduit or reversely thru the tank with the wasteconnection or to entirely disconnect said service conduit, and a draincock common to both courses of flow.

9. In a water softener, a tank havin inlet and outlet connections, asupply con uit, a service conduit and a waste connection, a common valvefor connecting the supplyconduit at will thru the tank with the serviceconduit or reversely thru the tank with the waste connection or the tankdirectly to the waste independent of connection to the service conduitor supply conduit, and a drain cock 0 erative in al positions of saidvalve.

10. n a water softener, a tank, conduits alternately employed as inletand outlet conduits leadin to the top and bottom of the tank, asupp yconduit, a service conduit and a waste conduit, and a rotary valvecommon .to all of said conduits, by the adjustment of which the waterflow from said service pipe may be directed thru the tank inlet andoutlet conduits in one direction and thence thru the service pipe, saidrotary valve having a loose- I mounted pressure operated means to closethe waste conduit.

11. In a water softener, a tank, se arate conduits communicating withthe tan and alternately employed for inlet and outlet purposes, a supplyconduit, a service conduit and a waste conduit, and a control valvewhich when in one position of adjustment connects the supply conduitthru the tank inlet and outlet conduits with the service conduit, saidcontrol valve havin a loosely mounted water operated means to c ose thewaste conduit.

12. In a water softener,'a tank, conduits extending into proximity withthe top and bottom of the tank respectively and alter-v nately employedfor inlet and outlet purposes, a supply conduit, a service conduit and awaste conduit and a valve for connecting the supply conduit alternatelywiththe respecin constant connection with one of the inlet and outletconnections adapted in one position to direct the flow from the sup lyconduit thru the tank to the service conduit and in another position todirect the flow part1 to' the service and partly through the tan to thewaste connections respectively.

14. In a water softener, a tank, a supply I conduit, a service conduitand a waste connection, and a common two-chamber control valve havingone chamber in constant connection with the tank which when in oneposition will direct the water flow from the supply conduit thru thetank to the service conduit and when in reverse position will direct theflow in reverse direction from the supply conduit to the wasteconnection.

15. In a water softener, a tank, a valve housing having an upper and alower connection with said tank, a supply inlet, a' service outlet and awaste outlet, a valve member in said housing adapted in one position todirect the water from the supply inlet to the tank and from the tank tothe service outlet, and aseal member on said valve member to seal thewaste outlet.

16. In a water softener, a tank, a valve housing havin an upper and alower connection with sai tank, a supply inlet, a service outlet and awaste outlet, a valve member in said housing adapted in one position todirect the water from the supply inlet to the tank and from the tank tothe service outlet,

and a water pressure operated seal member on said valve member to sealthe waste outlet.

17. In a water softener, a tank, a valve housing having an upper and alower connection with the tank, a supply inlet, atwoprong service outletand a waste outlet, a valve member in said housing adapted in oneosition to direct the water from the supp y inlet to the service outletand to the tank and from the tank to the waste outlet, and a seal memberon said valve member 'to seal one prong of said service outlet.

18. In a water softener, a tank, a valve housing having an upper and a.lower connection with the tank, a supply inlet, a twoprongv serviceoutlet and a waste outlet, a valve member in said housin adapted'in onesition to direct the water rom the supply inlet to the service outletand to the tank and from the tank to the waste outlet, and a waterpressure operated seal member on said valve member to seal one prong ofsaid outlet.

19. In a water softener, a tank, a valve housing having a pair of waterconnections with the tank, a supply inlet, a service outlet and a wasteoutlet, a test cock outlet and a valve member having a pair of chambersand a plurality of vents for the flow of water ada ted in one positionin cooperation with the housing to open one tank connection to the testcock outlet and close the supply inlet and the service outlet, and forma connection between the other tank connection and the waste outlet.

CHARLES P. EISENHAUER.

service

